A momentous night for Manchester: MTV EMAs celebrates 30 years

If there’s anything we know like the back of our hand here in Manchester, its music. Our city is arguably the city that birthed, developed, and continues to challenge modern music as we know it today. 

From The Smiths to Oasis, Joy Division to The Verve, The 1975 to Blossoms and every band and artist in between, Manchester’s name has become synonymous with a passion for sound. 

A warm and welcoming Northern city where up to 200 languages are spoken, there’s one universal love-language we share here that trumps all - music. 

So it felt only right for this year’s MTV EMA to take place right here in the city, at our shiny new Co-op Live arena, last night (10 November).  

The arena was transformed into a high-budget backdrop for the evening, paying homage to Manchester’s musical heritage and its warehouse party legacy with elements of the Hacienda woven into the expansive set. 

Kicking the night off in style was chart-topper and MTV’s ‘Best New Artist’ Benson Boone, opening the show in his signature acrobatic fashion after descending from the rafters on a golden grand piano whilst serenading the crowd with hits ‘Slow It Down’ and ‘Beautiful Things’.

Hosted by British pop princess Rita Ora - singer, songwriter and, apparently, master quick-changer after managing a whopping 12 outfit changes throughout - the evening saw a plethora of famous faces take to the stage to accept awards and show the crowds what they’re really made of. 

Tyla brought her latest track ‘Push 2 Start’ to the MTV EMAs stage, donning glimmering body paint with a troupe of backing dancers as they prowled their way across an industrial backdrop (a nod to Manchester, perhaps?) before warming up the crowd with her smash hit ‘Water’.

It was then Mexican trio The Warning’s turn to take centre stage, reigniting that early nineties MTV grunge we all know and love and turning up the heat (literally) with a pyro-fuelled performance of their single ‘Automatic Sun’.

Awarding Eminem with the trophy for ‘Best Hip Hop’ was winner of 1994’s Best Song, Neneh Cherry and her daughter, singer-songwriter Mabel. Eminem thanked MTV from his studio, apologising for not being able to make the evening. 

Shortly after, ‘Best UK & Ireland Act’ RAYE stunned the crowd with her powerful, spine-tingling performance of ‘Escapism’ and ‘Body Dysmorphia’, supported by a 30-strong choir and 13-piece live band against a Sinatra-esque set with her name in lights. 

Awarded probably MTV’s biggest and boldest title of the night, Little Simz presented Busta Rhymes with the well-deserved accolade of ‘Global Icon’ for which he gave an epic speech, thanking his mother and fellow rapper LL Cool J who was also in attendance. 

Winner of ‘Best Canadian Act’ Shawn Mendes gave the arena an intimate performance of his raw and heartfelt vocals before handing over the stage to newcomer Teddy Swims who had the crowd singing back his soulful lyrics with ‘Lose Control’ performed against a wet-and-windy, typically Mancunian backdrop. 

Between performances and awards, Rita took the time to catch up with a few of Manchester’s finest including (a very excitable) Bez and Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays and Stockport lads Blossoms before handing back over to Busta Rhymes for a surprise mega medley performance of ‘Scenario’, ‘Put Your Hands Where The Eyes Can See’, ‘I Know What You Want’, ‘Do The BusABus Pt.2’, ‘Break Ya Neck’, ‘Look At Me Now’, ‘Touch It’ and ‘Pass The Courvoisier’. 

A few more awards later and the stage was transformed into a black and white pyramid with Matrix-style green lasers as K-Pop force LE SSERAFIM appeared to the screams of their adoring fans, performing an unparalleled dance routine to their tracks ‘Chasing Lightning’ and ‘CRAZY’. 

Mexican artist and winner of MTV EMAs ‘Best Latin’ category, Peso Pluma, performed his single ‘Hollywood’ with a special appearance from track collaborator, Estevan Plazola, before Rita Ora made a touching tribute to Liam Payne, taking a moment to remember the artist who we sadly lost last month. 

Closing out the show, inaugural 2024 MTV EMA Pop Pioneer recipients Pet Shop Boys wowed the audience with a glitzy visual spectacle alongside local string players Manchester Camerata. The troupe performed a cover of Mott The Hoople’s ‘All The Young Dudes’ before celebrating the 40th anniversary of ‘West End Girls’ to conclude the evening.

The 2024 MTV EMAs is sponsored internationally by Meerchat from Compare the Market, Hotels.com and Paramount+. 

Header image: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for Viacom International

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See the full list of winners from this year’s awards ceremony below.  

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